Belt and Road Summit: Hong Kong has Beijing’s backing to maintain unique edge with common law system, free business environment and global links, top state official on city affairs says
- Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang’s address at summit in city marks clearest public confirmation of his top role in city affairs
- He says city remains important bridge and window connecting mainland China with world, urging deeper international cooperation
Hong Kong has Beijing’s backing to maintain its unique edge with a common law system, a “free, open and regulated” business environment as well as global links to play a bigger role in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a state official overseeing city affairs.
Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang was addressing the opening session of the two-day Belt and Road Summit on Wednesday in a pre-recorded message. Ding is the most senior state leader to speak at the event in Hong Kong, now into its eighth year.
The appearance of Ding – the sixth-ranked Politburo Standing Committee member – at the high-level summit in Wan Chai marked the clearest public confirmation to date of his role as the state leader in charge of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs.
Ding said Hong Kong had done “a lot of work” in deepening cooperation with belt and road countries through taking advantage of the city’s strengths in professional services, such as finance, law and shipping, as well as promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
“We support Hong Kong in maintaining its unique status and advantages for the long run … maintaining a free, open and regulated business environment, maintaining the common law system, expanding streamlined and convenient international connections, and playing a more important role in building the Belt and Road Initiative together,” Ding said in his first speech about the city.
Hong Kong remained an important bridge connecting mainland China with the rest of the world, he said, as he set out four expectations for the city. It should bolster its financial services industry, strengthen its cooperation with the rest of the region, focus on offering professional services and deepen cultural interactions, Ding said.
